New Zealand to ease strict entry restrictions

Thursday Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, He said That from February 27, the coronavirus restrictions currently in force on entry to the country will be gradually relaxed: they are among the most stringent in the world and have been much discussed in recent days, especially after Charlotte Bellis storya New Zealand journalist living in Kabul, who is pregnant and unable to return to New Zealand, said she had sought help from the Taliban.

New Zealand citizens living in Australia will be vaccinated the first ones affected by the easing of restrictions: from February 27 they will be able to return to the country to be able to do a mandatory 10-day quarantine at home instead of one of the structures designated by the government (the so-called friendsDepartment of Isolation and Quarantine), as expected under the restrictions currently in place. From March 13, New Zealand citizens in other countries will also be able to do the same.

The facilities provided by the New Zealand government to conduct quarantine are few and in great demand: finding an available place is very difficult, which is why many New Zealand citizens have been outside their country for two years, without to be able to to return. Strict border management during the pandemic has received various criticisms, although it has been welcomed by New Zealanders within the country. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 53 deaths from COVID-19 in New Zealand and about 17,000 infections out of a population of 5 million.

– Read also: The story of the pregnant New Zealand journalist who asked for help from the Taliban